Posted on 12/17/2006 4:03:30 PM PST by DAVEY CROCKETT
VEVAK learned its methodology from the Soviet KGB and many of the Islamist revolutionaries who supported Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini actually studied at Moscow's Patrice Lumumba Friendship University, the Oxford of terrorism. Documented Iranian alumni include the current Supreme Leader (the faqih) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, under whose Velayat-e Faqih (Rule of the Islamic Jurisprudent) apparatus it has traditionally operated. Its current head is Cabinet Minister Hojatoleslam Gholam-Hussein Mohseni-Ezhei, a graduate of Qom's Haqqani School, noted for its extremist position advocating violence against enemies and strict clerical control of society and government. The Ministry is very well funded and its charge, like that of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (the Pasdaran) is to guard the revolutionary Islamic Iranian regime at all costs and under all contingencies.
From the KGB playbook, VEVAK learned the art of disinformation. It's not so difficult to learn: tell the truth 80% of the time and lie 20%. Depending on how well a VEVAK agent wants to cover his/her tracks, the ratio may go up to 90/10, but it never drops below the 80/20 mark as such would risk suspicion and possible detection. The regime in Teheran has gone to great lengths to place its agents in locations around the world. Many of these operatives have been educated in the West, including the U.K. and the United States. Iranian government agencies such as embassies, consulates, Islamic cultural centers, and airline offices regularly provide cover for the work of VEVAK agents who dress well and are clean shaven, and move comfortably within our society. In this country, because of the severance of diplomatic relations, the principal site of VEVAK activities begins at the offices of Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.
Teheran has worked diligently to place its operatives in important think tanks and government agencies in the West. Some of its personnel have been recruited while in prison through torture or more often through bribery, or a combination of both. Others are Islamist revolutionaries that have been set up to look like dissidents - often having been arrested and imprisoned, but released for medical reasons. The clue to detecting the fake dissident is to read carefully what he/she writes, and to ask why this vocal dissident was released from prison when other real dissidents have not been released, indeed have been grievously tortured and executed. Other agents have been placed in this country for over twenty-five years to slowly go through the system and rise to positions of academic prominence due to their knowledge of Farsi and Shia Islam or Islamist fundamentalism.
One of the usual tactics of VEVAK is to co-opt academia to its purposes. Using various forms of bribery, academics are bought to defend the Islamic Republic or slander its enemies. Another method is to assign bright students to train for academic posts as specialists in Iranian or Middle East affairs. Once established, such individuals are often consulted by our government as it tries to get a better idea of how it should deal with Iran. These academics then are in a position to skew the information, suggesting the utility of extended dialogue and negotiation, or the danger and futility of confronting a strong Iran or its proxies such as Hizballah (Hezbollah). These academics serve to shield the regime from an aggressive American or Western policy, and thereby buy more time for the regime to attain its goals, especially in regards to its nuclear weaponry and missile programs.
MOIS likes to use the media, especially electronic media, to its advantage. One of VEVAK's favorite tricks is setting up web sites that look like they are opposition sites but which are actually controlled by the regime. These sites often will be multilingual, including Farsi, German, Arabic French, and English. Some are crafted carefully and are very subtle in how they skew their information (e.g., Iran-Interlink, set up and run by Massoud Khodabandeh and his wife Ann Singleton from Leeds, England); others are less subtle, simply providing the regime's point of view on facts and events in the news (e.g., www.mujahedeen.com or www.mojahedin.ws). This latter group is aimed at the more gullible in our open society and unfortunately such a market exists. However, if one begins to do one's homework, asking careful questions, the material on these fake sites generally does not add up.
Let's examine a few examples of VEVAK's work in the United States. In late October, 2005, VEVAK sent three of its agents to Washington to stage a press event in which the principal Iranian resistance movement, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK), was to be slandered. Veteran VEVAK agent Karim Haqi flew from Amsterdam to Canada where he was joined by VEVAK's Ottawa agents Amir-Hossein Kord Rostami and Mahin (Parvin-Mahrokh) Haji, and the three flew from Toronto to Washington. Fortunately the resistance had been tracking these three, informed the FBI of their presence in Washington, and when the three tried to hold a press conference, the resistance had people assigned to ask pointed questions of them so that they ended the interview prematurely and fled back to Canada.
Abolghasem Bayyenet is a member of the Iranian government. He serves as a trade expert for the Ministry of Commerce. But his background of study and service in the Foreign Ministry indicates that Bayyenet is more than just an economist or a suave and savvy businessman. In an article published in Global Politician on April 23, 2006, entitled Is Regime Change Possible in Iran?, Bayyenet leads his audience to think that he is a neutral observer, concerned lest the United States make an error in its assessment of Iran similar to the errors of intelligence and judgment that led to our 2003 invasion of Iraq, with its less than successful outcome. However, his carefully crafted bottom line is that the people of Iran are not going to support regime change and that hardliner President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually has achieved greater popularity than his predecessors because of his concern for the problems of the poor and his fight for economic and social justice. To the naive, Bayyenet makes Ahmadinejad sound positively saintly. Conveniently overlooked is the occurrence of over four thousand acts of protest, strikes, anti-regime rallies, riots, and even political assassinations by the people of Iran against the government in the year since Ahmadinejad assumed office. So too, the following facts are ignored: the sizeable flight of capital, the increase in unemployment, and the rising two-figure rate of inflation, all within this last year. Bayyenet is a regime apologist, and when one is familiar with the facts, his arguments ring very hollow. However, his English skills are excellent, and so the naОve might be beguiled by his commentary.
Mohsen Sazegara is VEVAK's reformed revolutionary. A student supporter of Khomeini before the 1979 revolution, Sazegara joined the imam on his return from exile and served in the government for a decade before supposedly growing disillusioned.
He formed several reformist newspapers but ran afoul of the hardliners in 2003 and was arrested and imprisoned by VEVAK. Following hunger strikes, Sazegara was released for health reasons and permitted to seek treatment abroad. Although critical of the government and particularly of Ahmadinejad and KhameneМ, Sazegara is yet more critical of opposition groups, leaving the impression that he favors internal regime change but sees no one to lead such a movement for the foreseeable future. His bottom line: no one is capable of doing what needs to be done, so we must bide our time. Very slick, but his shadow shows his likely remaining ties to the MOIS.
http://www.ocnus.net/artman/publish/article_27144.shtml
New initiative on Palestine stressed: Musharraf, Abdullah hold talks
http://www.dawn.com/2007/01/22/top1.htm
New initiative on Palestine stressed: Musharraf, Abdullah hold talks
ON BOARD PESISDENT'S PLANE, Jan 21: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on Sunday reached an understanding
on
a new initiative for resolving the Palestinian dispute.
The two leaders at a one-to-one meeting that lasted for more than two
hours called for joint efforts by the Ummah to back the initiative.
"If we don't act now, act immediately and come with a new initiative,
the dangers to the Muslim world will be maximum and its fallout to
Pakistan will be very dangerous," President Gen Musharraf told the
media
team accompanying him on his visit to five Arab countries.
"We agreed on the necessity of new and forceful initiatives directed at
the resolution of Palestine dispute, in our fight against terrorism and
extremism and to bring harmony into the Muslim world," the president
said.
He said there was a need to mature the ideas by taking other Muslim
leaders on board and evolving a consensus on how to take forward this
new initiative. He said there was a need to collectivise the efforts
for
peace and harmony and to reject confrontation and move in a new
direction with the hope to achieve this goal.---APP
Our Correspondent adds from Riyadh: President Musharraf and King
Abdullah held extended talks here on Sunday, covering the entire gambit
of Pakistan-Saudi relations and the 'explosive situation' in the
region.
They discussed matters of mutual interest, the situation in the Middle East, with special reference to the Palestine--Israel conflict, the
Afghanistan situation and the emerging situation in Iraq.
According to sources, the growing threat of a war against Iran and its
impact on the region were also discussed. Both sides felt that it was
imperative to avoid another flashpoint in the region. There was
unanimity of views on these issues.
President Musharraf described the Palestinian conflict as the core
issue
requiring urgent attention of the world and said it was vital that the
Muslim world came up with a strategy to address it to bring a lasting
peace to the region.
Harmony and peace within the Ummah was the need of the hour, the two
sides emphasised. It was stressed that addressing disharmony in the
Muslim world was of utmost importance in improving the regional
situation.
According to some reports, the two leaders also discussed other
important issues relating to the overall situation in the Islamic
world.
President Gen Musharraf also emphasised the need for enhancing economic
ties between the two countries.
Some analysts here pointed out that both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were
under increasing pressure from Washington. In recent days, Washington
has increased its pressure on Islamabad. Similarly, Riyadh is also
being
asked to support all US initiatives, including the military option
against Iran. The two countries understand their limits and hence are
seeking ways to handle this situation.
President Musharraf was decorated with the King Abdul Aziz medal by
King
Abdullah for his role in promoting ties between the two states and his
efforts in furthering the cause of the Ummah.
Earlier on arrival at the Riyadh Airbase, the president and his
entourage were received by King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan. A
number of other senior princes and senior Saudi government officials
were present at the airport.
President Musharraf was accompanied by Foreign Minister Khurshid
Mahmood
Kasuri, Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Durrani and Pakistani
ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Ihsan Ullah.
Later in the evening, President Gen Musharraf left Riyadh for Egypt on
the next leg of his regional visit.
Palestine President meets Hamas politburo chief
http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=944586
Palestine President meets Hamas politburo chief
POL-2LD SYRIA-HAMAS-MEETING
Palestine President meets Hamas politburo chief
DAMASCUS, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an
extended meeting with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mishal here Sunday
to
discuss attempts to form a government of national unity.
The meeting, to be followed by a face-to-face meeting between Abbas and
Mishal, included delegations from Hamas and Fatah. Top attendees from
Fatah were Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Abbas'
political
advisor Nabil Amro, while Mishal's deputy Moussa Abu Marzouq and
politburo member Mohammad Nazzal were from the other side.
Abbas and Mishal are expected to hold a news conference following their
meeting to announce what was achieved vis-a-vis the formation of the
government and its political program.
Today's meeting, originally scheduled yesterday, was held following a
Syrian mediation aimed at overcoming differences over the future
government's political program and distribution of portfolios.
Syrian Vice President Farouk Al-Sharaa and foreign minister Waleed
Al-Mualem met separately with Abbas and Mishal to bridge the gaps over
political issues. Abbas insists that the new government complies with
agreements signed between the PLO and Israel, while Hamas said it was
respecting the deals but would not abide by them.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), dominated by Fatah, wants the foreign,
finance and interior portfolios to be occupied by independent
personalities, neither affiliated to Hamas nor Fatah. (pickup previous)
om.
bs
KUNA 212211 Jan 07NNNN
January 22, 2007 Anti-Terrorism News
(Iraq) Bombs kill at least 90 people in Iraq - Over 190 wounded -
mortar attack on market, and 2 bombs strike Shiite commercial area
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070122143734
Iraqi PM Ceases Protection of Anti-American Al-Sadr Militia
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,245419,00.html
Top Somali Islamist surrenders in Kenya
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070122/ts_afp/somaliaunrest_070122123653
(Somalia) At least four killed in Mogadishu firefight
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070122/ts_afp/somaliaunrestethiopia_070122094525
(Pakistan) Suicide car bomber kills five in Pakistan, including 4
Pakistani troops
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/January/subcontinent_January802.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070122/wl_nm/pakistan_attack_dc_4
(Pakistan) Taliban chief said likely in Afghanistan - Mullah Omar
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_taliban_chief_1
(Pakistan) Islamists to oppose Mush's re-election
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Islamists_to_oppose_Mushs_re-election/articleshow/1381196.cms
(Afghanistan) Heavy Afghan fighting expected: U.S. ambassador
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070122/wl_nm/afghan_usa_taliban_dc_1
(Afghanistan) U.S.-led coalition fire from Afghanistan hits border
post, killing Pakistani soldier
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/22/asia/AS-GEN-Pakistan-Border-Shooting.php
(India) Fifteen hurt in grenade attack in Indian Kashmir
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070122/wl_sthasia_afp/indiakashmirunrest_070122083528
India could punish Pakistan for terror attack
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=349359&sid=NAT
(Indonesia) Gunbattle with Indonesian militants kills ten - raid of
Islamic militant stronghold in central Indonesia
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467786143&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Algeria: Terror Group Posts Video of Attack on the Internet - bus bomb
attack on Halliburton employees
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.378633119&par=0
Yemen Jews forced to flee due to al-Qaida threats
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467787335&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Thailand) 18 held in Bangkok bomb investigation; More likely to be
arrested
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=116209
(Philippines) One-armed man now top Philippine militant -- Radullan
Sahiron
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070122/wl_nm/philippines_militants_dc_2
(Philippines) No strong successor seen for Abu Sayyaf
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070121/ap_on_re_as/philippines_terror_successor_1
Slain Philippine militant said no link with al Qaeda
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP280756.htm
First Swiss al:Qaeda trial gets underway
http://www.nzz.ch/2007/01/22/eng/article7449970.html
Iran to block 38 UN N-watchdog inspectors
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1907256,00050004.htm
Iran's guards start wargame to test missiles
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070122/ts_nm/iran_missile_wargames_dc_1
(Iran) Top dissident cleric slams Ahmadinejad
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear_2
(Israel) Netanyahu to bring Ahmadinejad to trial
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21096906-1702,00.html
(Israel) IDF troops arrest three suspected terrorists
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467785058&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Former Hizbullah Sec-Gen: Hizbullah is an Integral Part of Iranian
Intelligence; The Abduction of the Israeli Soldiers Was an 'Unsuccessful
Adventure'
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD143107
(Greece) Kathimerini: Police fear that the terrorists behind US Embassy
strike are preparing another
http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n103907
(UK) 'SAS to fight terror in London'
http://www.itv.com/news/britain_a0ea66489ee148cac7ded4c01acd279c.html
(UK) Govt Advisor: Muslim majority schools 'pose security threat and
should be closed'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=430470&in_page_id=1770
(Canada) Terror suspect trades his BMW convertible for a prison
jumpsuit - Shareef Abdelhaleem
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070122.wxterror22/BNStory/National/home
Threats by Hamas prompt Arabic network's shutdown
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/01/20/threats_by_hamas_prompt_arabic_networks_shutdown/
Bali bomb movie to be released in Indonesia
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1831413.htm
Northern Ireland police 'protected terrorists' (my title)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/22/nruc122.xml
(Spain) Court rules three Basque groups are terrorist
http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=81&story_id=35675
Related News:
(UK) Govt Advisor: Muslim majority schools 'pose security threat and
should be closed'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=430470&in_page_id=1770
(US) Muslim congressman called for Weather Underground terrorist's
release in 2000
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53796
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53796
Sunday, January 21, 2007
HOMELAND INSECURITY
Muslim congressman called for terrorist's release in 2000
Ellison spoke at fund-raiser for woman from group that tried to kill Feinstein
Posted: January 21, 2007
7:00 p.m. Eastern
By Jay Baggett
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Minnesota freshman Rep. Keith Ellison for his recent swearing-in ceremony, the controversy over his taking the oath of office on the Quran overshadowed his earlier role in supporting a terrorist whose group tried to kill policemen and allegedly twice tried to murder Pelosi's fellow San Francisco lawmaker Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
On Feb.12, 2000, Ellison joined Bernadine Dohrn, one of the founders of the 1960s radical group the Weather Underground, and several other speakers at a fundraiser for recently arrested Kathleen Soliah, a.k.a. Sara Jane Olson.
Kathleen Soliah, a.k.a. Sara Jane Olson
Soliah who along with a small band of Bay Area radicals took in Bill and Emily Harris and Patty Hearst, the last surviving members of the Symbionese Liberation Army following the May 17, 1974, shootout in Los Angeles had been on the run since the three SLA "soldiers" were captured in September 1975.
Initially charged with planting pipe bombs under two police cars in Los Angeles in August 1975, Soliah was later charged in Sacramento for the murder of a bank customer killed in an April 1975 holdup after the victim's son exerted pressure through the media to reopen the case. Hearst, in her 1981 book, "Every Secret Thing," described the bungled robbery as an SLA operation in which she, Soliah, the Harrises and several others participated.
Soliah, arrested in St. Paul, Minn., in June 1999 and living under the name Sara Jane Olson, initially denied being Soliah or a member of the SLA. The upper-middle class doctor's wife was described by friends several of whom were members of the state legislature as an actress in community theater, a gourmet cook and a soccer mom who read books to the blind. People Magazine even did an article on her, featuring her well-appointed Highland Park home, and casting her as a Martha Stewart-type homemaker.
(Story continues below)
But as the long-forgotten story of the SLA was resurrected in the media and as the Los Angeles district attorney began to present the voluminous evidence, stored for over 25 years, Soliah-Olson shed the Martha Stewart image and presented herself as the victim of a politically motivated "witch hunt" and surrounded herself with SLA attorneys, '60s radicals and their sympathizers.
On Feb. 12, 2000, Soliah-Olson and her supporters held a forum and auction fundraiser for her defense in St. Paul. Among the speakers was Keith Ellison, a local criminal defense attorney, activist and radio talk-show host.
His speech is still preserved on an archived copy of the now-defunct Soliah-Olson defense website.
Ellison, who frequently defended black gang members in his practice, linked the prosecution of Soliah-Olson to notable radicals Geronimo Pratt and Mumia Abu Jamal.
"For the people who want to incarcerate Sara Jane Olson, ain't nothing changed," said Ellison. "As a matter of fact, they want to settle scores with Sara Jane Olson and others who were fighting for freedom in the '60s and '70s.
"... And like many of my clients, Sara Jane Olson has a public defender. Do you understand what I'm saying? Because she cannot afford to pay for her defense all by herself. Do you understand what I'm saying? I mean, the reality is, Sara Jane Olson, basically is a black gang member as far as I can see.
"... I think, just like the people who want to come together and lock up Sara, we need to come together and free Sara. And all the Saras, because she's not the only one."
Ellison, crediting the speech given by Dohrn earlier that evening, continued.
"This is not about justice," he said. "This is not about accountability, this is not about public safety. This is about symbolism. This is about making a point. This is about saying to you and to me that we are going to get you if you ever try to stand against what we're about. We're going to get you. And we're going to lock you up and we don't care how long it takes, we're going to get you."
Before finishing his speech, Ellison admitted his knowledge of the SLA was deficient:
"My point is that I remember the SLA. I was 12 years old when it hit the news in 1974. I remember the name, I remember the made-for-TV movie with Patty Hearst, who was 'taken away by the SLA' and by this black guy named Cinque, who strutted around and was real scary. And clearly these people were 'bad to the bone.' And as I began to read about the SLA, they were talking about rights for poor people. ... I mean I'm not trying to say the SLA is I don't even know enough about the SLA to tell you about the SLA, but I can tell you what they stated ... they were in favor of: It had to do with fighting poverty and fighting racism and stuff like that. I'm not even here to tell you how they did it, because I don't know.
"... And so, I just want to welcome you for your contribution to the struggle and thank those of you who have been maintaining the struggle over the years, and say, "Hey, free Sara!"
Thirty-three months after Ellison's call for Soliah-Olson's release, she, the Harrises, and Michael Bortin, pleaded guilty to the shotgun murder of Myrna Opsahl, the bank customer killed in the SLA robbery. Soliah-Olson also pleaded guilty to placing pipe bombs under LAPD police cars. A fifth member, James Kilgore, was later captured in South Africa and sentenced for bomb possession and Opsahl's murder.
The focus on the SLA in Soliah-Olson's trial distracted attention from her own violent history before and after coming into contact with the group that kidnapped Patty Hearst. Over a year before the SLA came into existence, Soliah, her brother, Bortin and Kilgore were questioned in connection with a bomb factory discovered in a Berkeley garage. Bortin and a second man were arrested in connection with the bomb lab and convicted and sentenced for possessing an ammonium-nitrate bomb. Based on information developed by the Alameda County district attorney, the pair was suspected of 10 bombings in 1971 and one in 1972, the latter involving a tack-grenade bomb housed in a beer can tossed into a bar across the street from the San Francisco Hall of Justice frequented by police officers and court personnel.
During the latter half of 1974, when the Harrises and Hearst were hiding out on a Pennsylvania farm, Kathleen Soliah, her brother, Kilgore and Bortin were setting off bombs in the Bay Area under the banner of the New World Liberation Front, a name announced in the first SLA communique after the Harrises and Hearst came under the protection of Soliah in June 1974.
Vin McLellan and Paul Avery, in their 1977 book "The Voices of Guns," documented more than 10 Bay Area bombings by Soliah's NWLF in late 1974 and 1975:
* Aug. 6, 1974: Bomb failed to explode at Burlingame office of General Motors Acceptable Corporation;
* Sept. 3, 1974: Bomb exploded in the San Francisco office of Dean Witter and Company;
* Sept. 13, 1974: Bomb exploded at the Palo Alto office of Dean Witter and Company;
* Sept. 28, 1974: Bomb exploded in a warehouse of an ITT subsidiary in San Leandro;
* Oct. 2, 1974: Bomb exploded in a women's restroom of the ITT-owned Sheraton-Palace Hotel in San Francisco;
* Oct. 30, 1974: Bomb exploded at the Los Altos Hills home of retired ITT president Robert Halleck;
* Nov. 6, 1974: Seven meter maid three-wheeled motorcycles blown up in a Berkeley parking lot;
* Dec. 19, 1974: Bomb exploded in the San Francisco office of General Motors Corporation;
* Feb. 3, 1975: Bomb exploded at the San Jose office of General Motors Corporation;
* Feb. 4, 1975: Double bombing at Pillar Point Air Force Radar Station near Half Moon Bay and the Vulcan Foundry in Oakland;
* Feb. 6, 1975: Pipe bomb exploded at KRON-TV station in San Francisco;
* Aug. 4, 1975: Three NWLF fire bombs exploded in the carport of the Woodside home of Charles de Brettville, chairman of the Bank of California, a director of Pacific Gas and Electric, Shell Oil, Western Union and Safeway Stores, Inc;
* Aug. 14, 1975: The NWLF claimed credit for bombing of an Emeryville police cruiser.
By February 1975, the Bay Area was averaging one bombing every 16 days. The NWLF was linked to more than 70 bombings by authorities, mostly in Northern California.
FBI wanted poster
McLellan and Avery wrote:
"The NWLF messages had a standing invitation to other groups to adopt the name, and there were apparently one or more independent 'NWLF' units that became active in bombings but according to Hearst's FBI confessions, it was Bill Harris and the 'second team' who were behind most of the two dozen NWLF bombings over the following nine months. ('The Harrises were the g*****n NWLF!' said one Patty-briefed source, mixing admiration and exasperation.)"
After the FBI dragnet that caught Hearst and the Harrises failed to capture Soliah in September 1975, she and Kilgore continued setting off bombs under the name of the NWLF. On Feb 12, 1976, 24 years to the day before Ellison's plea to "free Sara," authorities say Soliah and Kilgore set off a bomb at the historic Hearst Castle on California's central coast, causing $1 million in damage. The pair were identified from photographs by tourists who escaped the blast. The NWLF communique that followed demanded the Hearst family contribute $250,000 to the defense of the Harrises.
The following night, a deputy sheriff patrolling near Woodside in the south Bay Area was shot by two gunmen as he investigated suspicious activity beneath an electric transmission tower adjacent to the freeway. The officer interrupted the pair's efforts before the bomb they were setting could be exploded. The NWLF took credit for shooting the officer.
One of the NWLF's better-known targets in 1976 was then-San Francisco Supervisor Dianne Feinstein.
In 1995, Feinstein, by now a U.S. senator, testified at Senate hearings on terrorism where she explained why she carried a concealed weapon:
"Because less than 20 years ago I was the target of a terrorist group. It was the New World Liberation Front. They blew up power stations and put a bomb at my home when my husband was dying of cancer. And the bomb didn't detonate. ... I was very lucky. But, I thought of what might have happened. Later the same group shot out all the windows of my home.
"And, I know the sense of helplessness that people feel. I know the urge to arm yourself, because that's what I did. I was trained in firearms. I'd walk to the hospital when my husband was sick. I carried a concealed weapon. I made the determination that if somebody was going to try to take me out, I was going to take them with me."
Last week, Ellison was named to the House Judiciary Committee, which has oversight over civil liberties, immigration and the courts. He said he would like to see a ban on racial profiling and will work to restore civil liberties he says have been rolled back by the Bush administration, Associated Press reported.
Jon Opsahl, son of the woman killed by the SLA, told WND: "It does seem to confirm that, unfortunately, intelligence and integrity are not prerequisites for political office in this country in general and in Minnesota in particular."
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Jay Baggett is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.
Aide: Soviets tried to kill pope
POSTED: 1506 GMT (2306 HKT), January 22, 2007
ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- The late Pope John Paul's closest aide is
convinced the former Soviet Union was behind the assassination
attempt on the pontiff in 1981 because he was a threat to its power,
according to the aide's memoirs.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Pope's private secretary for nearly
four decades, writes of his life with the former Cardinal Karol
Wojtyla in a book called "A Life with Karol" to be released by
Italy's Rizzoli publishers on Wednesday.
Dziwisz, now the archbishop of Krakow in the late pope's native
Poland, also describes how the Pope spent nearly all of September
11, 2001 praying in his private chapel or watching live television
reports of that day's attacks.
In one chapter of the book, due out in Poland next week, Dziwisz
recalls May 13, 1981, the day Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca shot
the Pope while his open jeep was being driven through St Peter's Square at the start of his weekly general audience.
"Agca was a perfect killer," writes Dziwisz, who was riding in the
jeep with the Pope at the time. "He was sent by those who thought
the pope was dangerous, inconvenient, by those who feared him ..."
Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement in the assassination
attempt. (*) At the time of the shooting, events in the Pope's
Polish homeland were starting a domino effect which was eventually
to lead to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989.
The Pope was a staunch supporter of Poland's Solidarity union and
most historians agree he played a vital role in events that
eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"How could one not have thought of the communist world (being behind
the plot) ... you have to take into consideration all the elements
of that scenario: the election of a pope hated by the Kremlin, his
first trip back to his homeland (as Pope in 1979), the explosion of
the Solidarity union (in 1980)," Dziwisz writes.
"Doesn't everything lead in that direction? Don't the paths, even if
they are different, lead to the KGB?"
Last year, a report by an Italian parliamentary investigative
commission said the leaders of the former Soviet Union were behind
the plot and that Agca, a Turk now serving life in prison in his
native country, did not act alone.
Dziwisz also describes how doctors who operated on him were
convinced he would die under the knife.
In the book, Dziwisz also writes about how the Pope spent a day of
personal turmoil when terrorists launched their attacks on the
United States on September 11, 2001.
"The Holy Father was at Castelgangolfo (his summer residence). The
phone rang. We heard the shocked voice of (Secretary of State
Cardinal Angelo) Sodano. We turned on the TV and watched that
dramatic footage, the collapse of the two towers with so many poor
victims trapped inside," he wrote.
"He spent the rest of the afternoon between his chapel and the
television, dragging all his suffering behind him."
Dziwisz also write about John Paul's failed attempt to stop the war
in Iraq by sending envoys to U.S. President George W. Bush and the
late Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
In a chapter called "The Last Hours", he recalls John Paul's final
moments of life on April 2, 2005, at the end of a 10-year battle
with Parkinson's Disease.
"It was 9:27 p.m. We noticed that the Holy Father stopped
breathing ... some people stopped the hands of their watches at that
hour."
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.
[unknown url for article]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chechnya-sl/
JCS-L@DTIC.MIL
JCSLink JuSt Posted
January 22, 2007
Photo Chairman in Colombia--Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.
Peter Pace, and his wife, Lynne, meet senior Colombian military
officers upon their arrival at Bogota, Colombia , Jan. 18, 2007. Defense
Department photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen.
Pace, Colombian Leaders Address Narcoterrorism
BOGOTA, Colombia, Jan. 19, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff began a two-day visit here late yesterday to meet with Colombian
military and defense leaders to discuss how the U.S. and Colombia can
step up their cooperation to better confront drug trafficking and
terrorism. Story
News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2751
Gates Wants to Build on Success in Afghanistan
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2007 - Progress in Afghanistan
is impressive, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wants to build on
this success. Story
http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=2722
Pace, Gates Discuss Retention, Iraq Challenges
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2007 - High military retention rates, particularly
among troops who have served in Iraq, shows they recognize the
importance of what they're doing and the consequences of failing, Marine Gen.
Peter Pace told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Story
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2685
Transcript-Chairman, SecDef Testify at SASC
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2007 - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Marine Gen. Peter Pace joined Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Capitol Hill to testify in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan.
12, 2007. Read entire transcript at
http://www.jcs.mil/chairman/speeches/070112CJCSSecDefSASCHearing.html
Transcript-Chairman Holds Press Conference
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2007 - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Marine Gen. Peter Pace joined Secretary of State Rice and Defense
Secretary Gates for a press conference about Iraq on Jan. 11, 2007. Read
entire transcript at
http://www.jcs.mil/chairman/speeches/070111SecDefSecStatePressConference.html
Visit JCSLink at www.jcs.mil
I walked through security with this boxcutter
http://www.ntnews.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,21102438%255E13569,00.html
I walked through security with this boxcutter
By GREG McLEAN
23jan07
A WOMAN says that she was allowed through Darwin airport security with
a
metal boxcutter in her handbag.
Krys Roberts, of Moulden, passed through the security screen at Darwin
airport last week to pick up her daughter Lisa.
While security staff confiscated daughter Tamieka's deodorant can and a
friend's sandpaper nailfile they failed to detect the utility knife in
Ms Roberts' handbag.
The supermarket shelf-packer only realised she had the knife in her
handbag when she went to withdraw some money from an ATM at the
upstairs
departure lounge.
``Normally I leave the knife in my locker at work _ I was totally
oblivious that it was in my handbag until I got upstairs,'' she said.
``Originally, I thought, `Holy shit, what have I done?', but then I
realised I'd put my bag through the scanner like usual.
``How ironic that they could pick up and confiscate a can of deodorant
and a sandpaper nail file, but they can't detect a boxcutter.''
Ms Roberts said she tried to alert a security guard manning the
security
screen to the problem on her way out of the terminal, but was fobbed
off.
``I just wanted them to be aware that they'd let me through with a
knife
in my handbag, but he didn't want to know,'' she said.
``He just said, `It's nothing to do with us', which I got a bit of a
shock about.
``You'd think they'd be interested to know they let someone through
with
a knife.''
Darwin International Airport management did not want to comment on the
incident when contacted.
The utility knife that Ms Roberts says passed through the security
screening check is similar to one used by terrorists in the September
11
attacks.
Haniyeh: condition for truce: Right of Return
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=18842
"He also said that his government will accept a state on the pre-1967 lands, or within the Green Line, with Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed the right of return for the refugees and the release of the detainees as a precondition for a truce, not for recognition of the Israeli state."
Haniyeh addresses crowds in Gaza on the occasion of the new Hijri year
Date: 22 / 01 / 2007 Time: 10:45
Gaza - Ma'an - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has declared that there will be no concessions made in regard to the principles of the Palestinian lands. He confirmed that his government values having relations with all countries and mentioned that Mahmoud Zahhar will be visiting many countries in Latin America soon.
Haniyeh added, "We are not against reopening dialogue with anyone, even the USA. We don't have anything to be afraid of or to hide; our problem is with the Israelis and negotiations with them, as this experience has proven to be a failure."
Speaking in a festival on the occasion of the new Hijri (Islamic) year in Gaza he said, "We will be honest about the heritage of this nation and will not give up any inch of the Palestinian land." He called on the Palestinians to stand firm and face the siege imposed on them.
The festival was organized by the ministry of religious endowments and Islamic affairs ('Waqf') at the grand Omari Mosque in Gaza City. Many ministers and Palestinian Legislative Committee members attended the celebration.
Haniyeh, who delivered a long speech in which he spoke about the occasion and the immigration of the prophet Mohammad to Mecca, spoke also about politics and the current events in the territories and called on Palestinians to be patient. He said, "We are working in order to satisfy God, we are not seeking posts or ministries, but we will not give up any of our rights in Palestine or Jerusalem, or the right to return." He stressed the role of the mosques and the religious people and said that they are the source of faith and hope. He also said that the Palestinian government is a "Muslim government project on Palestinian land."
He also said that his government will accept a state on the pre-1967 lands, or within the Green Line, with Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed the right of return for the refugees and the release of the detainees as a precondition for a truce, not for recognition of the Israeli state.
Haniyeh said the national dialogue to end the chaos and disorder will be resumed soon in Gaza and expressed hope that it will achieve the formation of the unity government. He also spoke about the oppression that Palestinians are facing at the hands of the Israelis and also spoke about the Palestinians in Iraq and what they are facing at the hands of militias. He called on the Iraqi government to protect them. He also urged the Arab countries to protect the Palestinian refugees in their countries.
The prime minister spoke about the dangers which the Al Aqsa Mosque is facing and Israeli plans to judaize the holy city of Jerusalem. He also urged the Arab and Muslim countries to intervene in this issue and to pressurize Israel to halt its plans in the city.
In the end of his speech, Haniyeh called upon Palestinians to abandon the use of weapons and to be united.
Reminder: Release of Unprecedented In-Depth Poll of Iranians and Americans
Release of Unprecedented In-depth Poll of Iranians and Americans
On Irans Nuclear Program, the NPT, Iran-US Relations,
Islam and the West, Al Qaeda and Terrorism, and Other Topics
Wednesday, January 24, 2007, 11am 2:00pm
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Johns Hopkins University Kenney Hall
1740 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC
An unprecedented in-depth poll of Iranians and Americans on international issues conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org in partnership with Search for Common Ground will be released. Among the issues addressed in the largely parallel polls are:
Does the Iranian public favor Iran enriching uranium? Are there any incentives that would convince them to favor giving it up? Do they want to pursue nuclear weapons? Do they want Iran to withdraw from the Non-proliferation Treaty? How do they feel about the United Nations and the IAEA?
How far are Americans willing to go in negotiations with Iran? Are there conditions under which Americans would accept Iran having a limited enrichment capacity? Are they ready to use military force against Iran?
How do Iranians and Americans feel about each other and each others government? Do they favor direct US-Iran talks and increased exchanges between the countries?
Do Iranians and Americans see conflict between Islam and the West as inevitable?
Are Iranians concerned about terrorism? Do they feel attacks on civilians are sometimes justified? What are their attitudes toward bin Laden and al Qaeda?
How do Iranians view democracy and human rights in their country? How does this compare to American views of their country?
How do Iranians and Americans feel about globalization and being integrated into the global economy?
Two panels will discuss the implications of the findings, one addressing the issue of Irans nuclear program and the other the broader issues of Iran-US relations. Steven Kull, editor of WorldPublicOpinion.org will present the findings. Ambassador (ret.) William G. Miller, Senior Advisor to Search for Common Ground, will moderate the panels.
Panel participants include: Joseph Cirincione, Senior Vice President for National Security and International Policy, Center for American Progress; Dr. Trita Parsi, President, National Iranian American Council; Barbara Slavin, Senior Diplomatic Reporter, USA Today; Dr. Hamid Mowlana, Professor of International Relations and International Communication at the School of International Service, American University. Lunch will be provided.
RSVP required. Please email: info@pipa.org or call: 202-232-7500.
This message was sent from PIPA/WorldPublicOpinion.org to ruthr8500@yahoo.com. It was sent from: WorldPublicOpinion.org, 1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW Suite 510, Washington, DC 20036.
Head of Sweden's intelligence agency dies of apparent heart attack
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/22/europe/EU-GEN-Sweden-Obit-Bergenstrand.php
Head of Sweden's intelligence agency dies of apparent heart attack
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: The head of Sweden's intelligence agency, Klas
Bergenstrand, died early Monday from an apparent heart attack, the
agency said. He was 61.
Bergenstrand became ill overnight and was taken to St. Goran's Hospital
in Stockholm where he was pronounced dead, the Scandinavian nation's
security police, or SAPO, said in a brief statement.
Assistant Director Kurt Malmstrom took over Bergenstrand's duties
pending a permanent replacement, SAPO spokesman Jakob Larsson said.
Bergenstrand had led the agency since 2004, after serving as the
country's chief prosecutor for a decade. He also held several positions
at Sweden's Justice Department for more than 10 years, and served as
interim head of the national police in 1991-1992.
As chief prosecutor, Bergenstrand led a massive reorganization to
modernize and centralize Sweden's entire prosecution authority. He
started a similar reorganization at SAPO, putting more focus on
anti-terror efforts.
22 January 2007
Iran courts Latin America
As Washington squeezes Iran off the international stage, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez opens doors for more Iranian influence in Latin America.
Commentary by Sam Logan for ISN Security Watch (22/01/2006)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spent three days in Latin America this month seeking support from the region's anti-US leaders. What he found was political solidarity in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Ecuador - but little else. Still, though the Iranian president may have not found the vast support he was seeking, his trip was not without its significance.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez facilitated the Iranian president's trip. That fact, along with the fact that Iran's geopolitical presence in Latin America has been established beyond Caracas has not gone unnoticed. Iran already has a fairly solid foundation in Venezuela, and there are signs that an embassy may soon appear in Nicaragua.
Furthermore, Chavez's willingness to broker introductions between Ahmadinejad and leaders in Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia will lay the groundwork for closer ties with three more Latin American countries.
What the US daily The New York Sun has called a "Marxist-Islamist entente" is little in terms of substantive agreements and relationships, but it has a future.
Chavez spent three days touring Latin America with Ahmadinejad, eager to prove to the US that his influence in the region extends beyond Venezuela. An unsuccessful bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, plus the loss of Chavez-backed presidential candidates in Mexico and Peru last year have left many speculating that Chavez's bid for regional control has failed. He is eager to reverse that line of thought.
Chavez also knows that the Iranian presence in Latin America makes Washington uneasy.
After the Iranian president's arrival in Venezuela, his host gave a welcoming speech, full of predictable revolutionary rhetoric and brotherly love. The two then retired to the Miraflores Presidential Palace and signed at least 29 agreements, the most substantial of which appears to be a joint US$2 billion fund to promote development in "anti imperialist" nations around the world.
The following day, Ahmadinejad received two state medals from Nicaragua's newly elected president, Daniel Ortega. The Nicaraguan daily El Nuevo Diario newspaper noted that the two countries would exchange embassies.
The presence of an Iranian embassy in Central America may be too close for comfort for Washington, but Ortega is eager to see the development dollars that will come with closer ties to Venezuela and Iran.
The final day of Ahmadinejad's tour led him to Ecuador, where he was greeted warmly by Bolivian President Evo Morales. However, neither Brazilian President Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva nor Argentine leader Nestor Kirchner chose to meet with the Iranian president.
Looking back on the three-day tour, it appears that though Iran has won a regional partner in Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia are keeping their distance for now. Ecuador's new President Rafael Correa would benefit little from closer ties with Iran. In Bolivia, Morales governs over an increasingly difficult constituency, with half of his country threatening secession. He hardly has time to entertain broader relations with Iran.
Meanwhile, the climate inside Iran shows signs of a resistance to closer ties with countries on the other side of the world as well. Iran's leading dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, claims Ahmadinejad has focused too much on anti-US rhetoric and not enough on Iran's economy.
Recently, Montazeri said Iranians had "so much oil and gas but [make] useless work for others and don't think of our own people's problems and the price of basic commodities go higher and higher every day."
According to the The International Herald Tribune, the price of a tomato in Iran has quadrupled, from .59 (US76 cents) to 2.40 (US$3.10) due to rising inflation.
Montazeri also said the "government must forbid useless trips," clearly referring to Ahmadinejad's Latin American tour, and his second trip to Venezuela in under six months.
By courting Venezuela and other Latin American leaders, it is political support rather than economic deals that Iran seeks. Considered an international pariah state, Iran must work hard to maintain its relevance on the world stage. While Washington takes every opportunity to tarnish Iran's international reputation, Iran will take every opportunity to undermine Washington's influence around the world. Ahmadinejad may not have gained much on his last trip to Latin America, but he is far from finished with his engagement in the Western Hemisphere. And Chavez, for one, is happy to oblige.
Sam Logan is an investigative journalist who has reported on security, energy, politics, economics, organized crime, terrorism and black markets in Latin America since 1999. He is the Latin American correspondent for ISN Security Watch.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author only, not the International Relations and Security Network (ISN).
Printed from http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=17148
Online version provided by the International Relations and Security Network
A public service run by the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich © 1996-2004
Prof. Bernard Lewis: Broad Perspective on the Middle East Conflicts
Prof. Bernard Lewis: Broad Perspective on the Middle East Conflicts
www.herzliyaconference.org/Eng/_Articles/Article.asp?ArticleID=1675&CategoryID=223
I will use this platform as an opportunity to situate the events of this region in a wider picture.
The collapse of the USSR meant more than the end of the Cold War, but the end of an era in the Middle East. This is the end of the 200 years era which began when Napoleon came to Egypt. The only opportunities to the Middle East rulers were to play one power against the other. We saw it in World War II and during the Cold War.
The end of the Cold War was a change of cosmic dimension in the region. It took some years for the leaders of the region to adjust. Some still continued to play for a few years the same game of the Cold War.
Now the outside powers are not as interested in the Middle East as they were before. This means going back to older patterns. The primary identity of the Middle East countries is religious, not national or ethnic. It is always the Muslims against the rest. The task is to bring Islam to all the rest of mankind. This is the Muslims duty. Christianity "plays" the same competitive game.
There is an ongoing battle between the two religions. In the seventh century the Muslims did well and conquered part of France and Spain. The second successful attempt was made by the Ottoman empire. What we see today is the third attempt, with aspirations that this is the "third lucky" time. We see in Muslim writings that the struggle has already begun.
There are competing leaders to take this fight ahead. The Sunni Wahabbi cause represented by bin-Laden. Another is the Shiite version which began with the first Iranian revolution, and the second Iranian revolution occurring now.
The second major change of the end of the Bonaparte phase - is increased internal conflict in the area. This has sometimes appeared as a rivalry inside the Arab world. Now it is between the Sunni and Shiite (between "Protestants" and "Catholics").
The difference between them is an important one.
The word revolution is very important in the region. The Iranian revolution was a genuine one like the French one. It resonated far outside the country - East and West, and is still resonating. This is a major threat to the Middle East Sunni countries.
Saadat made peace with Israel due to rational calculations. In the recent Lebanon war Israel was cheered by moderate Sunni states, who were disappointed that Israel could not win over the Shiite branch. There are some who are willing to put aside their conflict with Israel in order to deal with the more immediate and intimate danger.
One more aspect of the second phase of the Iranian revolution: Ahmedinejad truly believes in the apocalyptic message he is bringing. This makes him very dangerous. The "Mutual Assured Destruction" is not a deterrent, but an inducement to him.
Ahmedinejad believes that he was sent to bring the Hidden Imam" Remarks at Herzliya Conference
"Ahmedinejad believes that he was sent to bring the Hidden Imam. He is not insane but he is devout and is supported by the spiritual leaders."
Lt. Gen. (res.), Shaul Mofaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transportation
http://www.herzliyaconference.org/Eng/_Articles/Article.asp?ArticleID=1658&CategoryID=223
We are experiencing a period of strategic changes throughout the world. This is a year of resolution of choosing between terror and a nuclear arms race on one hand and peace and stability on the other.
Iran is the primary source of problems in the Middle East today. This stems from the fact that it is involved in a nuclear arms program as well as in terror. A nuclear Iran will pose a threat not only to Israel but to the entire world, as it will spur a nuclear arms race in the entire region. The foot-dragging of the international community and the weakening of the moderate Arab bloc's stance towards Iran pose a threat to global peace.
There is agreement in the Western world that Iran is poised at the threshold of obtaining the necessary technology, this is the nuclear threat. UN Resolution 1737, and in particular its inclusion of Article 7 of the UN Convention (which allows sanctions against a state), marks an achievement. But this is an only an initial stage. The international community must take an array of steps: economically (including the realm of the Iranian oil industry), legally, and in other areas. The necessary means are available to do it.
Iran is currently the Archimedes point of the Middle East. It has dispatched satellites and produced a quartet of an Axis of Evil, which includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Iran is the world's number one exporter of terror.
In the arena of Palestine, Iran has bolstered the status of Hamas and of Islamic Jihad by providing financial backing and guidance. Iran's goal, as far as the territories are concerned, is to transfer to there the model of Hezbollah. Iran precludes the Palestinians' chance for achieving peace and prosperity, and we call upon them to disengage from the country.
In the arena of Lebanon, Iran supports Hezbollah's efforts against Siniora and the moderates, all the while tightening its grip on the country. Israeli intelligence officials who managed to construct an intelligence image of the arena over the past years report that large amounts of weapons are being transferred to Lebanon. UN Resolution 1701 has not been implemented according to its terms: the kidnapped soldiers have not been returned and there is no effective apparatus to halt the arming of Hezbollah.
There is a bloc of moderate Arab nations facing Iran. They are acting towards the reinforcement of Siniora but they still leave a large and dangerous vacuum. They must act quickly to change the situation. There are also domestic Iranian organizations that oppose Ahmedinejad. This is evident in the Iranian media and in the recent municipal elections.
Ahmedinejad believes that he was sent to bring the Hidden Imam. He is not insane but he is devout and is supported by the spiritual leaders. He was elected on a platform of hatred and of solving poverty. Denial of the Holocaust serves his ideology as well as Iran's popularity in the foreign arena (among the nations of the Axis of Evil) and in the domestic arena. Because of all this, the day Iran obtains a nuclear bomb is the day it will use it.
In conclusion, it can be said that the world cannot be apathetic. We, and the world, do not have the privilege of saying "We didn't know." There is a need for action. The potential to respond exists. The free world must unite and bring to an end to the threat.
Regarding the resignation of the Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz, it should be said that he acted with responsibility. The IDF is the strongest military in the Middle East, and no one is better than IDF soldiers
American missile defense deployment in Europe a threat to Russia
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20070122/59484625.html
American missile defense deployment in Europe a threat to Russia
13:19 | 22/ 01/ 2007
MOSCOW, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - Deployment of U.S. radars in the
Czech Republic and Poland threatens Russia, the commander of the Space
Forces said Monday.
The U.S. has long been considering the possibility of deploying
elements
of a national missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland,
citing the need to intercept possible intercontinental ballistic
missiles launched by so-called "axis of evil" states, namely Iran and
North Korea.
"Deployment of American radiolocation systems in the Czech Republic and
of a position area in Poland is dangerous for Russia," Col.-Gen.
Vladimir Popovkin told journalists. "First of all, because our
strategic
nuclear forces will be visible."
The construction of the European part of the U.S. national missile
defense system is to cost $1.6 billion over the next five years. Later,
the system can be expanded using sea- and space-based elements.
Poland has not yet decided whether to allow the deployment of the U.S.
missile defense system on its territory. On January 20, the U.S.
officially offered to deploy the radar elements of the system in the
Czech Republic. If the Czechs agree, the radar can begin operating in
2011.
From: jamestown.org
RUSSIA MULLS NORTH KOREAN DEBT WRITE-OFF
As Moscow hinted at plans to forgive Pyongyang much of its Soviet-era debt, Russia's willingness to offer Kim Jong-Il some economic carrots may indicate the Kremlin's intention to play a bigger role in international efforts to defuse the controversy around the North Korean nuclear program.
Earlier this month, Russian officials confirmed that Moscow and Pyongyang have renewed debt negotiations. In late December 2006, the Russian and North Korean Ministries of Finance discussed a possible debt write-off deal, said Yevgeny Anoshin, spokesman for Konstantin Pulikovsky, who co-chairs the bilateral intergovernmental commission. Anoshin also said that the intergovernmental commission on economic and technical cooperation was due to meet in Moscow in March 2007, mainly to discuss Pyongyang's debt (Interfax, January 5).
On January 4, the South Korean Chosun daily quoted diplomatic sources in Moscow as saying that Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong-Gil, had agreed in principle to write off some 80% of the $8 billion debt owed by North Korea. Russias Vneshtorgbank and North Korea's Trade Bank also agreed to re-estimate the debt at $8 billion including interest, the daily said.
"Russia backed down from its earlier position that it would not continue economic cooperation unless the North repays all its debt, in order to persuade it to take part in trilateral economic cooperation involving Russia and South Korea and return to the six-party nuclear talks," Chosun quoted diplomatic sources as saying.
The six-party negotiations on North Korea's nuclear program were restarted in December, but no date for the next round was agreed upon during the talks. Last October, Russia supported U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear test. However, Moscow argued that Pyongyang's nuclear program should be resolved through diplomatic means. Russia also confirmed that it shared Beijings reluctance to introduce stronger sanctions against North Korea, Russia's neighbor due to a narrow land border near Vladivostok.
Russia's last attempt to negotiate a strategic agreement with Pyongyang, back in 2000, ended up in an embarrassing failure. Moscow triumphantly announced that North Korea had agreed to give up its ballistic rocket program in exchange for Russia launching its civilian satellites into space. But the alleged agreement turned out to be a joke by Kim Jong-Il. In the wake of this incident, Moscow has refrained from any Pyongyang-related initiatives for quite some time.
But now Russia's emerging pro-active economic approach toward North Korea reveals Russia's renewed confidence in its ability to influence Pyongyang. Russia and North Korea had not had any debt negotiations for more than five years, and the renewed attempts to have the debt issue settled arguably signaled Moscow's intention to remove obstacles that had hindered the development of bilateral economic ties.
As a legacy of close Soviet-era ties, Pyongyang owed nearly 4 billion in transferable rubles to Moscow. In the wake of the Soviet collapse in 1991, Moscow has struggled to agree with its former allies on the exchange rate of the quasi-hard currency of the former Soviet bloc -- transferable rubles. For example, Pyongyang's debt principal was estimated anywhere between $2 billion and $7 billion.
The reported bilateral agreement to re-estimate the debt at $8 billion including interest comes as a significant achievement for Russian negotiators, because it would mean Moscow had managed to convince Pyongyang to accept a higher estimate of the debt. Pyongyang's reported willingness to consider a partial repayment of interest may also be seen as a success for Moscow, because in recent years some of its former allies were highly reluctant to even discuss interest payments when negotiating Soviet-era debts.
Trade with North Korea has long been of little economic importance to Moscow. Russia exports relatively small amounts of petroleum products, timber, coal, and chemical fertilizers, while North Korea mainly exports its cheap labor resources to Russia. Hence Russia, due to its insignificant trade volume with North Korea, has little to lose from U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.
Following the Soviet collapse in 1991, Moscow sharply downgraded its ties with North Korea and bilateral trade remained low due to North Korea's economic crisis and its unpaid debts to Russia. Beijing subsequently displaced Moscow as North Korea's main trade partner. Trade turnover between Russia and North Korea has been at around $150 million in the past two years, a fraction of Russia's trade with South Korea, estimated at some $9 billion in 2006.
As South Korea emerged as Russia's important trade partner in Northeast Asia, Moscow remained keen to develop economic and security ties with Seoul. On January 5, Russia's Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Viktor Fyodorov, announced plans for joint maneuvers with the South Korean Navy next year. In September 2007, Russian naval vessels are due to visit Inchon to train joint rescue missions, he said (Interfax, January 5).
Therefore, Russia appears to be pursuing a balanced policy regarding the Korean Peninsula, aiming at playing a larger role in tackling the nuclear crisis by utilizing its potential to influence Pyongyang. Moscow is believed to be considering a debt write-off for Pyongyang in order to convince North Korea to return to the six-party nuclear talks and develop trilateral economic ties between Russia and both Koreas.
--Sergei Blagov
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1771702/posts
Chavez to U.S. officials: 'Go to hell'
Yahoo News/AP ^ | Mon Jan 22 07 | CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER
Posted on 01/22/2007 9:42:41 AM PST by saganite
Amb. Nicholas Burns: Address to Herzliya Conference
Address to Herzliya Conference
Amb. Nicholas Burns, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
http://www.herzliyaconference.org/Eng/_Articles/Article.asp?ArticleID=1648&CategoryID=223
I want to start by thanking Uzi. Uzi and I have been talking for the past couple of years about Israels strategic involvement with NATO. In addition I want to thank Deputy Prime Minister Mofaz. We had a very good day together and talked about all those issues that Israel and America have at stake. The challenge of Iraq, the challenge of peace and stability in Lebanon, and the prospect of negotiations in the future of Palestinians and Israelis.
I want to begin with two thoughts to unite this conference.
What is the future between Israel and the United States in this global landscape? To seek security and peace in a world that is very different from when this conference started a few years ago. The issue of globalization, threats of global terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, international drug trafficking, trafficking of women and children are issues that have progressively worsened over the past 5 years.
We Americans know that we cannot defeat these issues without strong allies in this region, such as Israel. We share many common threats and pressing issues, but we also share many areas in which we can grow and flourish together. Some of these possible opportunities can be found in the sciences and technology. It is a changing world, and countries with like minded goals and beliefs that are willing to work together ought to do well in the future. Given the talents of our peoples we have a chance to negotiate on an international level successfully in the future.
As you take a global perception, The United States of America is in a position of advantage; it has recently undergone a breakthrough in their relations with both India and Pakistan.
United States is now engaging in a global partnership with India, and there has been major development with the USs relations with China. Progress that we hope to forge into the 6 party talks.
The American position is very strong and established. If you take a trip around the world to Africa, you can see that that there has never been such strong American involvement in the region. There is hope that the Sudan, Darfur, and Somalia will seek a positive intervention of UN.
In Latin America, Hugo Chavez and the Castro brothers are alive, but in 2006 there has been a movement towards pro democratic and pro market Governments in countries like Brazil, Chile, that wish to have relations with America.
When you turn to Europe. Many thought that due to disagreements between France and Germany over the war in Iraq that American relationships with Europe would be weakened. However, we have rebuilt those bridges with our European Allies. Our strategic partnership with Europe is as strong as it could have been this year.
American global position of leadership is strong, but there is no question that Americas most vital strategic interests are in Middle East.
We are looking at 4 challenges.
President Bush gave a speech ten days ago in regards to Iraq in which he made a very important decision that credibility means success, and that we cannot just walk away because it is difficult. The only way to bring stability is to stay and to make an effort to help the Iraqi government to retain its footing.
In Lebanon French President Chirac is hosting a conference at which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend. The goal of the conference is for Democratic nations to come together and produce efficient plans to stand up against Hezbollah, and defend themselves from countries harboring militants like Syria, Iran.
In your country, Secretary Rice was just here and very pleased with her meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. We have to take the opportunity that exists to reignite negotiations between Israelis and the Palestinians. What can we do to support Abu Mazen, and ensure that the policies of Hamas are rejected, as they can not lead to any positive outcomes.
On Iran I just have a few remarks. In Iran we face an important challenge. It may be the most important challenge that we face today. Iran is a country with a radical government, a radical agenda and wishes to be the most important country in the Middle East. They are governed by a President that has denied holocaust, and has aided in many conflicts in the region.
Iran played a negative role in these conflicts, by funding and directing Hezbollah attacks, providing technology that is killing Americans and British in Iraq, and the continued attempt by
Iran to bring down Lebanese government.
Iran through its policies has caused a severe reaction through the United States, which has since caused an increase in the USs adoption of seeking out intelligence and paramilitary information regarding the State.
What does this all mean? The USA has the right to defend its interests in this region. The USA since WWII has considered itself the garanteer of stability.
For 18 and half years Iran has withheld information from IAEA. For the past year Europe, Russia, and the US have been trying to negotiate a middle ground with Iraq. The bottom line is that Iran can not be allowed to become a nuclear state.
There are two paths that the Western world can take as far as Iran is concerned- one path is negotiation. The second path is the passage of a Security Council Resolution. The Resolution has not accomplished anything. Iran is one of 11 countries subject to chapter 7 sanctions. If by February 21, Iran does not stop its nuclear activity than it will become an
international pariah. My country doesnt believe that we should stop there. We want to put greater pressure on Iran. We are encouraging our friends not to sell arms to Iran. Russia and China have sold missiles to Iran, but we are hoping that they will stop in the future.
We are encouraging the EU to end export credits with Iran. We suggest to Europeans that the 14 billion euros earmarked to stimulate trade should be stopped. International financial institutions are rethinking business in Iran.
There are lots of things that the world can do to make Iran realize that there is a cost for their behavior. The United States does not seek confrontation with Iran; however the US has left all of the options on the table. First and foremost we are seeking a diplomatic solution. The offer to negotiate still stands. We are hoping that Iran will take that offer. Secretary Condoleza Rice has committed to personally lead these negotiations. Iran must make the choice that it is going to work with us and not against us. Again, the USA does not seek confrontations with Iran. Iran should expect that we and other countries will defend our interests of peace and stability in the Middle East. Iran is the country that is being isolated for this reason. Iran needs to learn to respect the power and will of the international community.
Iran is no longer on the offensive, but is rather on the defensive. We are hoping that the Iranian people are against their current leaders, who do not have their best interests in mind.
Some final words about Israel. We are committed to our alliance with Israel. We continue to be Israels strongest security partner. Our meeting today was a very useful exchange. The USA and Israel have similar strategic interests.
Twenty years ago I worked in the American Consulate in Jerusalem. I cant remember a time that the relationship between our two countries was as strong as it is today.
[Several years ago, there were reports of suicide bombers, who were tied to the steering wheel and their feet tied to the brakes, it might have been Palestine? I think that it showed up here in the early "you Gotta See this " threads.
granny]
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2007/01/014923print.html
January 21, 2007
Teenager "kidnapped" for suicide mission
When recruitment fails, there's always force. Or is this story just Sadiqullah's attempt to avoid prosecution? "Waziristan teenager kidnapped from Peshawar for suicide mission in Karachi," by Zar Nageen in the Daily Times, with thanks to DFS:
KARACHI: A teenager from South Waziristan has surfaced in Karachi with the extraordinary tale of being kidnapped by people who told him that they would make him carry out target killings and a suicide attack.
Sadiqullah, who says he is 14, told Daily Times from the office of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust Friday that he was kept in a comfortable place with many other boys and five girls.
According to him, he is a class eight student who boards at a hostel of the Frontier Children Academy, Hayatabad, Peshawar. His father Sardar Ali Khan is a businessman from South Waziristan. He claims he was kidnapped from his hometown on January 16 and reached Karachi Thursday night where he turned up at the Karachi Press Club after spending three days with his kidnappers.
[...]
Sadiqullah asked the abductors how they managed to make a video of them while they were in the academy. He was told that they had been following him and his friend for several months and wanted them to perform some special task. They said that they would also bring Irfan in a few days and then they would have to commit several murders and a suicide attack.
Sadiqullah said that it was impossible for him to kill anything. Upon this, the kidnappers signalled to the other boys in the room who started beating him. He said that he fought back and was injured. He was tied in a corner of the room and was told that he should think over his decision for which he was given 25 minutes. Eventually, Sadiqullah said he agreed to kill others in order to protect his own life.
Read it all.
Posted at January 21, 2007 07:09 AM
Syria and Iran to boost communication cooperation
Syria and Iran to boost communication cooperation
Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 07:45 PM
www.sana.org/eng/21/2007/01/21/97949.htm
[SANA is the Syrian government News Agency]
TEHRAN, (SANA) - Minister of Communication and Technology Amr Salem discussed with Iranian counterpart Mohammed Solimani Sunday ways of enhancing the cooperation relations between Syria and Iran in all fields particularly the communication and informatics technology sectors.
Both sides agreed on following up the implementation of all agreements signed between the two countries.
Salem pointed out that all agreements and memos of understanding signed between Syria and Iran should be put in force in order to realize the required goals and results.
For his part, Solimani underscored his country's keenness on making the agreements signed between Syria and Iran a success.Earlier, Salem underlined, when meeting Governor of the Iranian Province of Mashhad Mohammadi Zadah, the importance of developing the joint cooperation between Syria and Iran in all fields.
He pointed out to the joint projects implemented between the two countries, stressing the significance of the Syrian-Iranian bilateral relations and the necessity of developing them in all domains.
"We have great chances for establishing joint cooperation between Syria and Iran," the Minister noted.
On the other hand, Minister Salem discussed with Iranian Minister of Housing & Urban Development Mohammed Saidi-Kia ways of developing the joint cooperation between Syria and Iran in the communication
and technology fields in a way that serves both countries interests.
For his part, Saidi-Kia underscored the necessity of working hard for enhancing the joint cooperation between Syria and Iran and removing all obstacles that may hinder it.
A.Zeitoun / Ghossoun
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticleprint/2007/01/16d2b242-f205-46b7-9b3c-730989202457.html
Monday, January 22, 2007
China: Test Could Bring Militarization Of Space A Step Closer
By Breffni O'Rourke
China -- map
(RFE/RL)
January 22, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- China's successful use of a missile-launched space vehicle to destroy an orbiting satellite has at a stroke threatened to change the world's military balance.
Only the United States and the Soviet Union, when they were Cold War rivals, experimented with such a space weapon -- and they abandoned that research more than 20 years ago, leaving the world free of space-based weapons.
Military analysts around the world have spent the last few days pondering the consequences of China's spectacular space mission, which destroyed an old Chinese-owned weather satellite in orbit some 860 kilometers above the Earth.
Beijing has not confirmed the test, but U.S. intelligence officials say it took place on January 11. They also say that the United States was monitoring the event, as it had prior knowledge that some sort of test was due to happen that day.
High-Speed 'Kill'
The U.S.-based magazine "Aviation Week and Space Technology" first broke the story. It quoted U.S. sources as saying the intercept between the "kill vehicle" and the satellite was made almost head-on at extremely high velocity.
It said the kill vehicle was taken aloft aboard a ballistic missile launched from the Xichang facility in Sichuan Province.
The test has caused international shock waves, because it appears to demonstrate that China has mastered the considerable expertise in space tracking and guidance needed to bring two small objects into collision in the vastness of space.
In a first reaction, U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey expressed dismay on January 19 at the prospect of an arms race in space.
"We certainly are concerned by any effort, by any nation, that would be geared towards developing weapons or other military activities in space," Casey said. "That's absolutely contrary to what our policies articulated by the White House state. So we've raised our concerns with the Chinese government. We've done so both here in Washington and in Beijing."
Beijing, for its part, has neither confirmed nor denied that the satellite was deliberately intercepted. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao is quoted by Reuters as saying that "as a matter of principal, China advocates the peaceful use of space and opposes the weaponization of space, and also opposes any form of arms race."
What's Behind Test?
Why did the mission take place, then? British space analyst David Baker, the editor of "Jane's Space Directory," said he believes that Japan is the country that the Chinese wanted to impress with this test, rather than the United States or the West.
"Japan has been very keen over the last several years to get as much information as possible on China's military intentions, and that's why they began to design and launch their own military reconnaissance satellites."
"In the last few years, Japan has moved strongly to put in orbit satellites to investigate areas the Japanese feel are suspicious research sites for China's arms programs," Baker said. "Japan has been very keen over the last several years to get as much information as possible on China's military intentions, and that's why they began to design and launch their own military reconnaissance satellites."
Baker said the Chinese want to demonstrate to Tokyo that they can put any such system out of operation, if necessary.
However, the potential threat posed by the Chinese success extends far beyond Japan. The ability to destroy satellites is the power to take away the eyes and ears of the modern world. Satellites have become a building block of modern life, whether civilian or military.
"The extent to which countries -- not only the United States, but countries throughout the world -- are dependant on space-based technologies, weather satellites, communications satellites, and other devices [makes them essential] to be able to conduct modern life," State Department spokesman Casey said.
'Space Control'
The senior editor of "Aviation Week," Craig Covault, wrote that China can now also use "space control" as a policy weapon to help project its growing power regionally and globally.
Analyst Baker noted, however, that Beijing has not infringed any international laws with its satellite-destroying mission.
That's because the International Space Treaty, of which China is a signatory, forbids weapons to be placed in orbit. But as the killer spacecraft was launched directly from Earth to attack its target, it is exempt from treaty restrictions.
Related Stories About China:
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# Border Security Tightened Amid 'Terrorist Infiltration' Warning
# Senior Official Seeks More Local Help To Defuse Social Unrest
# Condemnation Over Sentencing Of Uyghur Activist's Sons
# President Balances Relations With Rivals India, Pakistan
# African Countries Sign Deals With Beijing
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